Housing

On-Campus

Campus Housing offers a wide variety of housing options including family housing. They have a number of residence halls on UIC’s three main campuses. Campus Housing offers programs, activities and services that provide an educational advantage for UIC students. They also offer premium locations throughout the campus that other off-campus housing options cannot.

If you are interested in campus housing, you should apply early since spaces can fill up quickly. The application, as well as information about deadlines and fees, can be found on the Campus Housing website.

If you arrange for Campus Housing, make sure to schedule your arrival in accordance with a time the Campus Housing office will be open.

If you have questions about Campus Housing, you can contact the office at 312-355-6325 or housing@uic.edu.

Off-Campus

UIC has an Off-Campus Housing office located on the second floor of the Student Residence Commons, 700 S. Halsted, Room 2026. The office provides housing information and offers many services that you may find helpful in making your living arrangements. Many internationals choose to live off-campus. Chicago is a big city with many diverse neighborhoods.

A word of advice: If finances are a concern, we recommend that you do not rush into signing a housing contract (lease) until you are aware of all your housing options. Calculate carefully what you can realistically afford before making your decision. Be aware that heating costs may not be included in your rent and may be a separate expense. Due to the climate in Chicago, this can be expensive.

Apartment terminology
When apartment searching you may run into some of the following terms:

Lease – A lease refers to the contract that you sign when you rent an apartment. A lease is a legal relationship between the tenant (you) and the landlord.

Apartment – An apartment is a long-term accommodation, in a housing unit which occupies part of a building.

Rental – A rental is when a payment is made by temporary use of another’s property.

Hostel- A hostel is a short-term, budget accommodation where customers can rent individual beds in social rooms, or sometimes private rooms but with a shared bathroom.

Apartment Search Company – An apartment company searches for an apartment for you free of charge. Instead they are paid a percentage by the landlord.

Helpful websites
Following are helpful websites, newspapers, and apartment search companies that may be of use to you in your search.

*This list is for informational purposes only. OIS does not endorse any of these businesses. Rates depend on availability and are subject to change.

Temporary Housing

Temporary Accommodation

We recommend that you contact the UIC Guest Housing Office for information regarding “Guest (Short-Term) Housing” on campus. A few hotel and youth hostel options are listed below. There are many other temporary housing options in Chicago. Please note that prices very due to the season and events occurring in Chicago and are subject to change without notice.